This season set multiple milestones for Sac State. They beat an FBS team for the first time since 2012 with a 41–10 victory over Colorado State.[1] The Hornets claimed their best start to a season in school history when they won their seventh game against Montana 31–24 in overtime, and completed their first perfect regular season in school history following a 27–21 victory over UC Davis.[2] They won their first ever FCS playoff game with a 38–31 win over Richmond.[3] However, in the highest-scoring game in FCS playoff history, they were upset by Incarnate Word in the quarterfinals, 66–63.[4]
On July 25, 2022, during the virtual Big Sky Kickoff, the Hornets were predicted to finish second in the Big Sky by the coaches and third by the media.[6]
Coaches poll
Predicted finish
Team
Votes (1st place)
1
Montana
111 (3)
2
Sacramento State
110 (4)
3
Montana State
109 (5)
4
Weber State
84
5
UC Davis
82
6
Eastern Washington
76
7
Northern Arizona
62
8
Idaho
45
9
Portland State
42
10
Cal Poly
33
T-11
Idaho State
19
T-11
Northern Colorado
19
Media poll
Predicted finish
Team
Votes (1st place)
1
Montana
356 (14)
2
Montana State
352 (13)
3
Sacramento State
335 (4)
4
Weber State
261
5
UC Davis
255 (1)
6
Eastern Washington
236
7
Northern Arizona
191
8
Portland State
146
9
Idaho
142
10
Cal Poly
85
11
Northern Colorado
71
12
Idaho State
66
Preseason All–Big Sky team
The Hornets had five players selected to the preseason all-Big Sky team.[7]